prajendran writes: There were a lot of controversies generated at the Indian Science Congress earlier this month, including claims of ancient aircraft in India, the use of plastic surgery there, and ways to divine underground water sources using herbal paste on the feet. One argument that could be tested using some form of evidence was the assertion by Science Minister Harsh Vardhan that the Pythagorean theorem was discovered in India. Manjul Bhargava, a Princeton University professor of mathematics and a Fields Medal winner describes why the question is not defined well.

Don't expect them to learn Linux now - even if it is a better option. Security Essentials or Avast should help. It would be better to encourage them to use Google Chrome or, better, to use Firefox with NoScript, HTTPSEverywhere, though NoScript can be a bear to learn to use effectively (This, only because of recent concerns about Google's on-off relationship with the idea of having respect for users' privacy).
Windows 7 or later should ensure they can quickly give new programs admin permissions if required, even if they are using an account with few privileges.

prajendran writes: James Hansen, the former director of the Goddard Institute of Space Sciences, has been a strong defender of using nuclear energy to replace coal and renewable energy. He and three other researchers had written a letter, arguing just this.In this interview with rediff.com, an Indian news site, he was asked to address some concerns surrounding the issue, especially given the strong feelings generated by it. It may not be Hansen's best interview, but it did bring out his passionate side.